Despite the many distractions along the way, I have finally put together a working version of my task estimation tool.? As is usually the case, the actual development was the easy part, the hard part was picking the name.? Since I am going to put out for download, I figured that “Task Estimation Tool” probably wasn't the catchiest name possible, so I changed it.
Of course, coming up with a decent name is always problematic for me, so I did what I always do when I have these types of problems.? I ask for help.? In this case I sent around a copy of the software to some folks I know and asked for help on a name.? After a large amount of amusing and ultimately not helpful suggestions (I'm looking at you “approxsoftimator”…), we basically decided on “Trailhead Estimate”.? While at first I wasn't crazy about it, it has grown on me, and having a decent name certainly helps move things along to the point where I can release it out for download, which is my ultimate goal (I've already started using it for my own needs).
Of course, having a name also means that its time to create an icon.? Being the software type, I don't usually have much need for the various graphic design packages that are available – most of them are overkill for the once-a-year type use I would put them through.? Traditionally, I have used a drawing program to create the icons.? I just started using Paint.Net – I'm not sold on the design, but it seems solid and is free.? I also have an old copy of Paintshop Pro from when it was awesome, that I like to use whenever possible.? Once I had the basic icon design, I would copy it over to Visual Studio's Icon Editor and tweak it to make it look right.? Unfortunately, it never looked right (mostly because of my own ineptitude).
This time around, I decided to see if there were any tools out there that could help ease the creation of the icons.? There seemed to be several to choose from, but they all wanted payment, which, as I mentioned, didn't seem like a good deal for the amount of use that I would put them through.? Fortunately though, I ran across this little gem.? Not only is this version free for users of VS2008 (which I am), but it is also the basic version of the package that I had ultimately decided on, but couldn't justify for a one-time need.
Hopefully, this tool should help me create some icons that don't look completely awful.? I have just begun playing with it, and I can tell you that it is definitely better than the original Visual Studio Icon editor, but I haven't quite decided if it beats my old method of using a regular drawing program and copying it over.? I'll let you know how it turns out.